The densest galaxy in the nearby Universe may have been found. Packed with an extraordinary number of stars, this unusual galaxy is providing astronomers with clues to its intriguing past and how it fits into the galactic evolutionary chain. This composite image shows M60 and the region around it, where data from NASAís Chandra [continue reading]

September 25, 2013 Trumpler 16, an open cluster within the Carina Nebula Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Maíz Apellániz (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Spain) Trumpler 16 is an open star cluster within the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372 or the Eta Carinae Nebula), located about 7,500 light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation [continue reading]

Data from NASA’s Curiosity rover has revealed the Martian environment lacks methane. This is a surprise to researchers because previous data reported by U.S. and international scientists indicated positive detections. The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover examines a rock on Mars in this 2011 artist’s rendering. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The roving laboratory performed extensive [continue reading]

September 24, 2013 NGC 7331, a spiral galaxy in Pegasus Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler (http://www.robgendlerastropics.com) NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy of some 100,000 light-years across, located about 49 million light-years away from Earth in the northern constellation of Pegasus (the Winged Horse), while it is receding from us at roughly 816 kilometers [continue reading]

A supermassive black hole lies at the heart of our galaxy. Fresh evidence suggests that it last erupted two million years ago. Astronomers have long suspected such an outburst occurred, but this is the first time they’ve been able to date it. An artist’s conception of a black hole generating a jet. Two million years [continue reading]

September 23, 2013 RCW 88, A Red Cocoon Full of Young Stars Image Credit: ESO RCW 88 is an emission nebula, a star-forming region of about nine light-years across, located some 10,000 light-years away from Earth in our Milky Way galaxy. This H II region is the birthplace of new stars. Recently formed stars are [continue reading]